For some of the best choices in in kids' dining check out French Market, Rancho del Zocalo, River Be

One of the most asked questions travel agents get from clients about visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World is “How can I save the most money?” Now what you have to realize is that there are many variables to take into consideration when answering that question. So today we’ll delve into how to save on lodging, aaa vacation packages food and tickets.
First, where do you want to stay? If you would like to stay at a Disney property in Anaheim aaa vacation packages you will pay a premium. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is the most affordable option if you want to experience Disney hospitality. The off-site hotels that are within walking distance of the park are more reasonably priced, but families need to keep in mind that for these properties you will pay for the convenience of being able to walk across the street to enter the gates of Disneyland. If you choose a hotel property a block or two from the theme park you can reap considerable savings aaa vacation packages on your stay.
At Walt Disney World in Florida, you have a much wider variety of choices when it comes to picking a Disney-owned hotel. Disney offers properties of the Value, aaa vacation packages Moderate, Deluxe aaa vacation packages and Deluxe Villas variety. They even have a campground for the more adventurous sort. There is a budget category for every pocketbook at Walt Disney World and Disney has made staying on-site very attractive by adding some extras for those who chose to do so. Imagine being able to play after hours in one of the parks after the gates have closed because you are a guest of the resort? If you stay at a Disney property, you will have this amazing opportunity!
Many clients ask how they can save money on food while visiting a Disney park. We get it. Food at a Disney park is expensive. Obscenely expensive, and they only let guests aaa vacation packages bring in snacks or foods that do not require heating. You can bring in bottled water and soda, but will not be allowed to bring in juice boxes or Capri Sun drinks that have straws. You may also bring soft-sided coolers. For people with food allergies or special diets, you are allowed to bring in some food, but it must be disclosed to security. If you are lucky enough to have a big cooler with you and you can pack a meal, you can rent lockers just outside the entrance of the park and enjoy your meal there. Because food is such a hot-button issue, I’ll spend most of this article discussing it.
If you are visiting Disneyland, the park is close to the outside world so you are able to leave and eat at a restaurant off-site. The least expensive options directly across the street include McDonalds, IHOP, Quizno’s and Denny’s. If you have a car and are able to venture further away, dining options include California Pizza Kitchen, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Joe’s Crab Shack and Red Robin.
If you decide to stay in the park, there are many options to saving aaa vacation packages money. You’ll save a lot of money by sticking with counter-service or cafeteria-style restaurants, which are substantially cheaper than the table-service restaurants. aaa vacation packages If you look around you can find some decent options besides corn dogs, hamburgers and fries.
Note that the cheapest beverage aaa vacation packages options at all of the theme park counter service restaurants are apple or orange juice and milk, all which will cost you $1.79, though the portion is small. You can also ask for a cup of ice water, which is FREE. Regular-sized fountain sodas or bottled aaa vacation packages water run $2.79 each. And the cost of coffee or hot tea is also $2.79.
A few restaurants that are relative bargains within the parks are Rancho del Zocalo, River Belle Terrace and Plaza Inn in Disneyland; and Pacific Wharf and Boardwalk Pizza Pasta in Disney California Adventure.
The plates at Rancho del Zocalo near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad can be very substantial, and the Mexican food served at this location is very tasty. For example, one order of fish tacos includes two tacos (each with a fairly big piece of mahi and two corn tortillas, plus toppings) plus a lot of rice and beans. The tamale special includes a good-sized tamale, a serving of beef carnitas, rice, beans and several small flour tortillas. Many of the platters at Rancho del Zocalo are so large that a couple can share.
At River Belle Terrace on in Frontierland, the freshly carved turkey sandwich, while a bit pricy, is large and comes with two good-sized sides (baked beans and a cold item), plus there is a toppings bar for the sandwich with lettuce, tomato, aaa vacation packages onions, aaa vacation packages etc. This lunch is easily shared between a couple. The River Belle Terrace also offers a great breakfast at a reasonable price. The “Steamboat Breakfast” aaa vacation packages includes three pancakes, aaa vacation packages scrambled eggs and three strips of bacon.
The Plaza Inn on Main Street, U.S.A., is also a good dining option. After the Mickey and Minnie breakfast is over, it turns into a cafeteria-style restaurant for lunch and dinner. The food is quite good, the portions large, and prices decent. For approximately $15.00 you get half a chicken, a large serving of mash potatoes, and a large serving of fresh green beans. This is more than enough to share between 2 people.
Pacific Wharf Cafe at Disney California Adventure serves a variety of hearty soups in a freshly-made sourdough aaa vacation packages bread bowl. You can order the soups with the bread bowl “on the side” or they’ll give you a bowl of soup and a whole loaf of bread. It really is a lot of food. Pacific Wharf also offers aaa vacation packages the least expensive breakfast in either of the theme parks. They offer an Egg and Bacon Boule Scrambled eggs served in a traditional bread boule, served with two slices of bacon and fruit or a Breakfast Croissant Sandwich Freshly baked croissant with Scrambled eggs, Cheddar Cheese and Bacon for $5.99. They also offer a hot bowl of oatmeal served with brown sugar, honey and raisins for just $3.99.
I’ve already discussed aaa vacation packages that how portion sizes at many of the restaurants already mentioned are huge and can be split among a couple people. If you’re not sure, a good trick at the counter-service restaurants and snack stands is to stand to one side and watch as people leave with their orders, so you can see how the portions look. If the portions are big and you are not big eaters, consider splitting an entree or combo meal between two people. If you could use just a little more food, possibly order an extra side dish or appetizer and you will find you have plenty of food to share.
Adults looking for a smaller portion at the counter-service restaurants should not hesitate to order from the kids’ menu. The kids’ meals are an especially good deal because they include a cold beverage you can usually choose from a small lowfat milk, small lowfat chocolate milk, juice box, small bottled water or small soda; some locations have a more limited selection of beverages, so make sure to check the posted menu. The kids’ meals are also often healthier than the adult options.
For some of the best choices in in kids’ dining check out French Market, aaa vacation packages Rancho del Zocalo, River Belle Terrace and Plaza Inn at Disneyland; and Flo’s V8 Cafe, Paradise Garden Grill, Boardwalk Pizza Pasta, Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill and Lucky Fortune Cookery at Disney California Adventure. Remember: adults are not allowed to order from the kids’ menu at full-service restaurants.
If you are dining at a table-service restaurant and are not feeling particularly aaa vacation packages hungry or want to save some money, consider ordering an appetizer instead of an entrée. Appetizers aaa vacation packages can many times be just as filling and delicious as an entrée, but can save some big bucks!
Options for saving money on food at Walt Disney World are bit more varied. There are over 250 dining choices ranging from American to African, Polynesian, Sushi, aaa vacation packages Norwegian, British and everything in between. aaa vacation packages You name it, you can probably find it somewhere at Walt Disney aaa vacation packages World. This also includes snacks, aaa vacation packages counter-service and fine dining experiences. So how can a family save money when the nearest off-site restaurant is in the food court of a shopping mall over a half-mile from Downtown Disney? You just need to know a few tricks!
aaa vacation packages Another tip that was shared by a friend is for those traveling with small children who are often picky eaters and don’t finish all their food is to visit the food court in one of the resorts and buy two slices of bread for 69 cents plus tax. You can add peanut butter for about 50 cents, and in some food courts it’s free because there are packets of it with the condiments. Jelly can be obtained for free because aaa vacation packages it’s a condiment. So for around a dollar or less, you can make a peanut aaa vacation packages butter and jelly sandwich for those little ones!
In a few cases, an expensive aaa vacation packages table-service restaurant and a nearby counter-service location offer the same food item for two very different prices. It can really pay to know the difference. At a counter-service location, the item will usually be presented without any garnish or sides and served on a paper plate. Here are some hints (note that prices are subject to change at any time):
At Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom, a bowl of New England Clam Chowder is $7.49 (plus tax and tip) at lunch. Get the same chowder at the nearby Columbia Harbour House for $4.69 a bowl, plus tax.
Kona Cafe in the Polynesian Resort serves its Tonga Toast with a side of breakfast meat for $12.99 (plus tax and tip). At Captain Cook’s Snack Company nearby, Tonga Toast is served by itself for $5.19 plus tax.
At Chefs de France in Epcot at lunch, you’ll aaa vacation packages pay $14.99 (plus tax tip) for Quiche Lorraine served with salad and $7.25 (plus tax and tip) for Crème Brulee with a madeleine. At Boulangerie Patisserie, located in a building behind the restaurant, the quiche without salad is $5.20 plus tax, and the crème brulee by itself is $4.50 plus tax.
If you’d like to try the famous Zebra Domes desserts, you can get them at the rather expensive Boma buffet aaa vacation packages at Animal Kingdom Lodge ($32.99 and up, depending on season, for an adult meal, plus tax and tip), or just buy them a la carte at the Mara food court for around $4 each. Mara also offers soups that are the same as Boma’